President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has officially approved the 2024 National Security Strategy (NSS), a comprehensive plan designed to tackle the country’s evolving security challenges both domestically and internationally.
National Security Adviser Eduardo Año confirmed on Sunday that the strategy was greenlit during a meeting at Malacañang Palace on Dec. 19. The NSS supports the administration’s National Security Policy for 2023-2028, laying out 53 strategic directions and 393 actionable steps aimed at safeguarding national sovereignty, promoting peace, and enhancing citizens’ welfare.
Año highlighted four key priorities in the NSS: human capital development, institution-building, effective use of diplomacy and defense, and fostering sustainable economic growth. The strategy emphasizes a whole-of-nation approach, calling on government agencies, private sectors, and local communities to collaborate in achieving national security objectives.
“This isn’t just about defending borders; it’s about protecting the aspirations of every Filipino,” Año said, stressing the NSS’s focus on education, healthcare, technology, and governance to bolster resilience and secure a better future for the next generation.
Aligned with the Philippine Development Plan, the NSS also aims to protect critical industries, strengthen national defense, and support economic growth. Año urged Filipinos to actively participate in collective security efforts, stating, “Together, we can overcome challenges and create a nation our children will be proud of.”
